Arizona Nurse - April 2021

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Page 4 • Arizona Nurse April, May, June 2021 Nurses Who Vaccinate Carol Stevens, PhD, RN, AzNA Past President Pat Mews Robin Shaeffer Nurses have always been at the forefront during infectious disease emergencies, so it is no surprise to find nurses volunteering to vaccinate during the COVID-19 pandemic. For over a year, nurses have selflessly cared for and nurtured patients sick and dying of COVID-19, yet with the acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, hope for ending the pandemic is on the horizon. “Nurses who vaccinate” recognizes this subset of clinicians who are enthusiastic and determined to get shots into the arms of many. Covid-19 vaccinations became available to Arizonans on December 15, 2020. AZ nurses quickly recognized the appealing opportunity to volunteer at vaccination sites across the state. “I wanted to volunteer to give vaccines because it was a way for me to support our nursing staff at the frontline. I no longer work at the bedside but by giving vaccines I knew I was doing something that would directly slow down the spread of the virus and provide relief to my fellow nurses,” said Teri Wicker RN. As Points of Dispensing (PODs) began to literally pop up across the state, vaccine leaders quickly mobilized resources and posted requests for medical and non-medical volunteers. A monumental team effort was required to successfully and safely vaccinate over 3,500 people a day, according to Heather James RN, Director of Nursing & Quality Assurance at Dignity Health. James had the responsibility of planning and opening the Chandler/Gilbert POD, Lesly Kelly & Sarah Gerber Carol Stevens, Robin Schaeffer & Teri Wicker Nurse Positions Available! • RN • LPN • Student Assigned • Substitute Nurses Must have authorization to work in U.S. as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 and current AZ RN or LPN license. Great Schedule, Excellent Benefits! To apply or for more information, please visit our website at: www.dvusd.org The East Valley Institute of Technology is currently accepting applications for instructors in our high school CNA program as well as an instructor for our Adult Education Practical Nursing program. Please use the following link for more information regarding these positions, and to apply. www.applitrack.com/EVIT/onlineapp Colleen Hallberg Carol Stevens “A” Rated Pre-K–12 School District Angela Jones - 480-461-4112 To access electronic copies of the Arizona Nurse, please visit http://www.NursingALD.com/ publications Heather James & dog
April, May, June 2021 Arizona Nurse • Page 5 now operated by AzDHS. As the PODs evolved, volunteer nurses responded. “I attended a live classroom presentation on vaccine administration, received a Certificate and have been administering vaccines at the Az State Fairgrounds and several care homes since,” said Pat Mews RN. The PODs gave this writer and other nurses, many of whom are retired, the opportunity to pay it forward. What surprised us all was the “lessons learned” and how understanding the “vaccination process” was so beneficial to efficiently and effectively volunteer. The most important information about Arizona’s Vaccination Program is understanding that there are two entities organizing and running the COVID-19 Arizona response (see resources). The first step in volunteering is to register with either the state (Az DHS) or the County Public Health Department Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Both have their own requirements such as background check, immunizations and license verification. Once verified in either system, one gets email notices of volunteer opportunities. What we learned was not all PODs/sites are alike. Learning how to sign-up for a shift can be a challenge because each POD/site has different hours, roles, numbers of volunteer spots available, etc. Often PODs were staffed by student nurses as part of their clinical experiences as well as other paid and nonpaid medical personnel. While each POD has similar orientation, much like a shift huddle, available supplies such as hand gel, cotton pads, alcohol wipes, band aides and the process for receiving pre-filled vaccine syringes differed. One had to ‘learn the ropes’ quickly and then settle into the rapid and consistent flow of willing vaccine recipients driving through the vaccination site. Other differences were surprising. We quickly learned some nurses were getting paid, some sites allowed “walk-ins,” some POD sites were staffed with national emergency response groups such as Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) and Team Rubicon. One thing was certain – all opportunities allowed for nurses to meet others committed to making a difference. The real joy in volunteering to vaccinate is seeing the gratitude expressed by anxious and eager people receiving their vaccination. One can see the sparkle in the eyes and feel the smiles behind the masks, as old and young express appreciation and relief. The rewards I felt after a day of vaccinating were indescribable, despite the soreness and aches my body felt after standing for hours. Knowing that I was contributing to the total number of vaccinated people was very satisfying. Most of us who volunteer will continue doing so for perhaps many months to come, as protecting our community and getting the pandemic under control is our ultimate goal. I believe we can all count on change, so staying informed and sharing vaccination knowledge among our colleagues is critical. Resources: STATE Az DHS: AZ-ESAR-VHP Register at: https://mcdph.samaritan.com/custom/501/ Contact: email esarvhp@azdhs.gov. COUNTY VACCINATION PARTNERS: MARICOPA COUNTY Maricopa County Dept of Public Health Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Register at: https://esar-vhp.health.azdhs.gov/ Contact: 602-506-6767 or email Covid19Volunteer@maricopa.gov OTHER COUNTY PARTNERS, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, MOBILE VACCINATIONS (i.e. Pima County, Yuma County, Coconino County, etc.), please see County Health Dept websites.
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Arizona Nurse - April 2021

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